Cabinet enclosure



Jan. 14, 1964 J. R. WRIGHT CABINET ENCLOSURE Filed Oct. 31, 1962 INVENTOR JOH/VE. IMP/6h 7' United States Patent 3,117,828 CABlNET ENCLGSURE John E. Wright, Tonawanda, N.Y., assignor to American Optical Company, Southbridge, Mass. Filed Oct. 31, 1962, Bar. No. 234,312 7 Claims. (Cl. 3123l9) This invention relates to an improved closure wrangement for cabinets, canisters, bins, or the like; and more particularly to closures of improved form for cabinets or the like wherein the opening to be covered lies in a plane slanted somewhat backwardly from the vertical, but not closely approaching the horizontal. For example, the invention is particularly suitable for use in cases where the opening lies in a plane inclined between 25 to 65 from the vertical. Container openings disposed as above described provide for ease of access to the inside of the cabinet or container, but difiiculties have been encountered with respect to provision of a mechanically simple and operably convenient closure therefore. Typically, such devices as old style flour canisters and bread boxes or the like with similarly disposed openings, were arranged to be closed by one-piece arcuately shaped doors pivotable backwardly into the container body to uncover the opening and to provide access thereinto. However, such arrangements necessitated provision of a small opening in proportion to the over all size of the container, because the depth of the container behind the opening was required to be greater than the dimension of the closure member from top to bottom.

It is obvious that the ease of access into such a container is a function of the size of the opening thereinto, and it is a primary object of the present invention to provide for a container a closure arrangement which ofiers a greater degree of accessibility and convenience of operation than has heretofore been possible with prior type closures.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved container and closure therefor as aforesaid, which is extremely easy to operate, and which may be fabricated from a minimal number of parts of extremely simple construction.

Still another object is to provide a container with a closure as aforesaid which is inherently handsome and appealing in appearance.

Another object is to provide a closure device whereby the container opening may be approximately twice as large in proportion to the size of the container, as was heretofore possible.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the detailed description hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a container of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the container of 1G. 1 with a portion thereof broken away to show the interior construction;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a disassembled portion of the closure device of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of portion of the closure device of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on enlarged scale, taken substantially through line 5--5 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, on enlarged scale, taken substantially through line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

As shown in the drawing herewith, the illustrated embodiment of the invention includes a generally box-shaped housing It? resting on a base 11. As best seen in FIG. 1, the housing 16 is provided with a top-front opening designated 12 which extends through the upper part of the "ice front wall and through the front part of the top wall of the housing it). As shown herein, a supplemental liner or parti-casing 13 is set within the rear portion of the housing 16; the casing 13 being of open front and top form.

The closure device comprises a pair of visor shaped members l4, 15 (FIGS. 3-4). Member 14 is formed with a pair of parallel legs l5, 16 extending substantially normal thereto, and are apertured as indicated at l7--17 to provide for pivotal mounting of the visor 16 upon the casing 13, as by means of bolts lit-18, and spacer bearings 19. The second visor-like member 15 is formed with parallel arm portions 22, 22 which also extend substantially normally therefrom and are apertured as indicated at 2323 for pivotal mounting of the visor 15 upon the upper end of the casing 13 by means of bolts 24. (RC. 1.)

Thus it will be apparent from the drawing that the closure member 14 is adapted to swing in a substantially horizontally directed are from its solid line closed position (FIG. 1) to its open position, when it is retracted beneath the rear top Wall portion of the housing it while the closure member 15 is adapted to swing in a substantially vertically directed arc and thus may be retracted down behind the lower front wall portion of the housing 19. Coordinate, simultaneous opening and closing of both closure members is attained by means of a pair of camming rollers 26-26 which are afilxed to the inside surfaces of each of the arm portions l6, 16 as by means of screws 27-27 (FIG. 6). The arm portions 22, 22 of the visor 15 are telescopically disposed between the arm portions l6, 16 of the visor 14, and the camming buttons 2625 project inwardly from the arms 16, 3.45 and extend into slots 24, 24 formed in the bottom edges of arms 2222.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the arms 22, 22 are thus supported by the camming buttons 26, 26 in cooperation with the pivot devices 24 24, and the parts are so arranged that when the panel 14 is pulled forwardly (as by means of the handle 3% thereon) as to its solid line position in FIG. 1, the visor 15 will be lifted by the action of the camming buttons 2 526 on arms 22, 22 as to the position shown in FIG. 1, will thereby be moved to their closed positions. Conversely, when the handle 3% is pushed rearwardly as to the broken line position thereof in FIG. 1, thereby retracting the visor 14 to open position, the camming buttons 2626 will swing to the dotted line positions thereof in FIG. 1, thereby allowing visor member 15 to swing downwardly to its open position.

Thus, it will be appreciated that by virtue of the arrangement of the present invention a cabinet-closure has been provided which features a dual vizor-lil e arrangement wherein the vizors are relatively telescopic and separately mounted for pivotal motions in two generally different directions by means of pivot connections located at widely spaced positions on the cabinet body. The cabinet closure portion of one vizor element moves in a substantial horizontal plane and provides top cover for the canopy opening, while the closure portion of the second vizor moves substantially vertically and provides front cover for the cabinet opening. Thus, the two vizors cooperate to close off the cabinet opening, and the mechanism is operated by simply manually displacing the top closure portion inwardly or outwardly relative to the cabinet. interrelated cam means are provided on the side arm portions of both vizor members and function automatically to elevate and lower the bottom vizor whenever the top vizor is pivoted outwardly or inwardly.

For example, beginning from the solid line position of the closure mechanism as shown in FIG, 1, manual pressure against the handle portion 3% towards the right as viewed in FIG. 1 will cause the top vizor member to pivot upon its connections 18, i8 and retract inwardly and in telescopic relation under the solid top portion of the cabinet. coincidentally therewith the camming devices 24, 26 will cause the bottom vizor to pivot and lower pivotally about its connections 24, 24 into the well of the cabinet behind the solid lower front wall portion thereof. Thus, manual displacement of the handle portion 3t) as from the solid line position to the broken line position thereof as shown in FIG. 1, will result in uncovering of an opening substantially twice the height of the distance through which the handle 30 is displaced. It will be noted that in the case of the present invention this relatively large opening effect is attained through use of relatively small dimensioned vizor members such as require correspondingly small storage spaces interiorly of the container when the container opening is fully uncovered. Also, it will be noted that the vizor structures and their relative dispositions and pivoting arrangements are such that their functional interconnections through the camming devices operate to provide a system which is substantially balanced throughout the intermediate portion of the range of opening-closing movements of the closure mechanism. Hence, the closure mechanisni'is easily operable in response to relatively light forces applied manually to the handle portion 39. However, as the mechanism approaches either fully opened or fully closed condition, the mechanism becomes automatically overbalanced, slightly and in such manner as to operate to cause the mechanism to settle into either its fully opened or fully closed position, as the case may be. Hence, there is no tendency of the closure mechanism to shift position unintentionally.

Thus, it will be appreciated that a closure mechanism is thus provided which features improved facility of operation as well as simplicity and ruggedness of operative parts; and that whereas only one form of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail hereinabove, various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. in combination, a cabinet having opposite side walls and a low front wall and a sh rt top wall thereby cooperating to define therebetween a slopingly framed cabinet opening, and a closure device for said opening comprising a pair of vizor-like members each having an arcuately sectioned closure portion and parallel side legs extending radially therefrom, the first of said vizor members being disposed with its closure portion extending substantially horizontally and its leg portions extending downwardly therefrom and pivotally mounted at their bottom ends upon fixed cabinet structure, the second vizor member having its closure portion disposed substantially vertically and its side leg portions extending substantially horizontally therefrom and pivotally connected at their far ends to iixed cabinet structure, can ming means carried by adjacent leg portions of said vizor members and cooperating to cause said vizor members to pivot simultaneously either toward cabinet open or closed positions, said vizor members being so constructed and arranged that when they are moved to their closed positions their closure portions cooperate to cover said cabinet opening, and whereby displacement of said first vizor member into telescopic relation within said cabinet will automatically cause said second vizor member to lower into telescopic relation within said cabinet thereby uncovering said cabinet opening.

2. A closure device for a cabinet having opposite side walls and a low front wall and a short top wall thereby cooperating to define therebetween a forwardly and upwardly facing cabinet opening, said closure device comprising a pair of members each having an arcuately sectioned closure portion and parallel side legs extending therefrom, the first of said members being disposed with its closure portion extending substantially horizontally and its leg portions extending substantially vertically and pivotally mounted at their bottom ends upon fixed cabinet structure, the second member having its closure portion disposed substantially vertically and its side leg portions extending substantially horizontally and pivotally connected as their far ends to fixed cabinet structure, camming means carried by adjacent leg portions of said members and cooperating to cause said members to pivot simultaneously toward either cabinet open or closed positions, said members being so constructed and arranged that when they are moved to their closed positions their closure portions move to positions of adjoinment and thereby cooperate to completely cover said cabinet opening, and whereby displacement of said first member into telescopic relation within said cabinet will automatically cause said second member to lower telescopic relation within said cabinet thereby completely uncovering said cabinet opening.

3. In combination, a cabinet or box-like construction and having a forwardly and upwardly facing cabinet opening, and a closure device for said opening comprising a pair of closure members each having parallel side legs extending therefrom, the first of said members being disposed with its closure portion extending substantially horizontally and its leg portions extending substantially vertically and pivotally mounted at their bottom ends upon fixed cabinet structure, the second member having its closure portion disposed substantially vertically and its side leg portions extending substantially horizontally and pivotally connected at their far ends to fixed cabinet structure, cam ring means carried by adjacent leg portions of said members and cooperating to cause said members to pivot simultaneously either toward cabinet open or closed positions, said members being so constructed and arranged that when they are moved to their closed positions their closure portions cooperate to cover said cabinet opening, and whereby displacement of one of said members into telescopic relation within one portion of said cabinet will automatically cause the other member to retract into telescopic relation within another portion of said cabinet thereby uncovering said cabinet opening.

4. in combination, a cabinet having a forwardly and upwardly facing cabinet opening, and a closure device for said opening comprising a pair of plate-like members each having a leg extending therefrom, the first of said members being disposed with its closure portion substantially horizontally and its leg portion extending substantially vertically and pivotally mounted at its bottom end upon fixed cabinet structure, the second member having its closure portion disposed substantially vertically and its side leg portion extending substantially horizontally and pivotally connected at its far end to fixed cabinet structure, cumming means carried by adjacent leg portions of said members and cooperating to cause said members to pivot simultaneously either toward cabinet open or closed positions, said members being so constructed and arranged that when they are moved to their closed positions their closure portions cooperate to cover said cabinet opening, and whereby displacement of one of said members into telescopic relation within said cabinet will automatically cause the other member to retract into telescopic relation within said cabinet thereby uncovering said cabinet opening.

5. A closure device for use in connection with a cabinet having a forwardly facing cabinet opening, said closure device for said opening comprising a pair of cover members each having an arcuately sectioned closure portion and parallel triangular-shaped side legs extending radially therefrom, the first of said cover members being disposed with its closure portion substantially horizontally and its leg portions extending substantially vertically and pivotally mounted at their bottom ends upon fixed cabinet structure, the second cover member having its closure portion disposed substantially vertically and its side leg portions extending substantially horizontally and pivotally connected at their far ends to fixed cabinet structure, carnming means carried by adjacent leg portions of said cover members and cooperating to cause said cover members to pivot simultaneously either toward cabinet open or closed positions.

6. In combination, a cabinet having a low front wall and a short top Wall thereby cooperating to define therebctween a slopingly facing cabinet opening, and a closure device for said opening comprising a pair of vizorlike members each having a closure portion and parallel side legs extending radially therefrom, the first of said vizor members being disposed with its closure portion extending substantially horizontally and its leg portions extending substantially vertically and pivotally mounted at their bottom ends upon fixed cabinet structure, the second vizor member having its closure portion disposed substantially vertically and its side leg portions extending substantially horizontally and pivotally connected at their far ends to fixed cabinet structure, said vizor members being generally disposed in criss-cross telescopic relation, camming means carried. by adjacent leg portions of said vizor members and cooperating so that displacement of said first vizor member into telescopic relation Within said cabinet Will automatically cause said second vizor member to lower into telescopic relation Within said cabinet, thereby uncovering said cabinet opening.

7. In combination, a cabinet having a low front Wall and a short top Wall thereby cooperating to define therebetween a slopingly facing cabinet opening, and a closure device for said opening comprising a pair of vizorlike members each having a closure portion and parallel side arms extending radially therefrom, the first of said vizor members being disposed with its closure portion extending substantially horizontally and its arm portions 5 extending downwardly therefrom and pivotally mounted at their bottom ends upon fixed cabinet structure, the second vizor member having its closure portion disposed substantially vertically its side arm portions extending substantially horizontally therefrom and pivotally 10 connected at their far ends to fixed cabinet structure,

said vizor members being generally disposed in crisscross telescopic relation, and camming means carried by adjacent leg portions of said vizor members and cooperating so that displacement of said first vizor member 15 into telescopic relation within said cabinet will automatically cause said second vizor member to lower into telescopic relation Within said cabinet, thereby uncovering said cabinet opening, said first vizor member thereby providing vertical support for said second vizor mem- 90 her and cooperating therewith to provide a generally overall balanced mechanism which tends to settle into either fully open or fully closed positions.

Reercnces flied in the file of this patent 2:) UNITED STAT S PATENT S 951,344 Soucek et al. Mar. 8, 1910 2,288,482 Plohberger June 30, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 30 19,367 Denmark Oct, 6, 1914 

5. A CLOSURE DEVICE FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH A CABINET HAVING A FORWARDLY FACING CABINET OPENING, SAID CLOSURE DEVICE FOR SAID OPENING COMPRISING A PAIR OF COVER MEMBERS EACH HAVING AN ARCUATELY SECTIONED CLOSURE PORTION AND PARALLEL TRIANGULAR-SHAPED SIDE LEGS EXTENDING RADIALLY THEREFROM, THE FIRST OF SAID COVER MEMBERS BEING DISPOSED WITH ITS CLOSURE PORTION SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY AND ITS LEG PORTIONS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY AND PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT THEIR BOTTOM ENDS UPON FIXED CABINET STRUCTURE, THE SECOND COVER MEMBER HAVING ITS 